Happy Halloween which is pretty non-existent in England. During lunch saw maybe one person dressed up as people really don't do much over here.

Simon Young did make an effort at the end of the day doing his best Teen Wolf impression with a little in office tribute!

Went into the office today to learn a couple of new things as tomorrow I'm back there for a week and half which should be fun.

Found a tiny mp3 player today to go with the new exercise program I've started, basically try eating and drinking less. At least now I can rock out and do it!!

The Angels and Airwaves cover that was shot what seems like age ago in tomorrow's Kerrang! Once the calendar runs I'll post my favorite shot from that shoot...

A day at the computer and catching up on paperwork... Yes!! This pic was sent over by Tom Bryant from last week's cold trip to Moscow...

Couldn't work out this sign... A Russian Car Shower???

Got up early AGAIN, to drop off the gear at the rental house. Then took a train down to Brighton. The motoring Fish and I saw the film Stardust today which was pretty interesting. Very British, reminded me of the Full Monty.

Went for a nice meal at Las Iguanas which we have always laughed about because of the type of people that are in there. Must say the food wasn't too bad, but the drinks came to the table as if they were being delivered in Moscow traffic. But hey most authentic Mexican restaurants are usually that way!! Could have gone for a Russian sandwich instead...

We actually followed through with our threat and got up early! Had a quick bite to eat and then went back down to Red Square, this time via the subway... Seems the only way to go in Moscow as it took us ten minutes to get there rather than over an hour in the car!! Went to try and go see Lenin's tomb but it was closed so we thought we'd take the piss instead. Each bought one of those hats and then did a photo in front of St.Basil's Cathedral!!

Wandered around looking for a somewhere to eat before settling on Italian in Russia which wasn't too bad. Sped back to the hotel to catch another hour and a half cab ride to the airport. Bored waiting at the airport for 5 hours for our delayed flight but thanks to Tom's smile and member card, no excess baggage charge and checked all the way through. All we had to do was run across Frankfurt airport to make our second delayed flight of the day!! After a sleepy ride home passed right out...

Up early for some breakfast with everyone and then piled into a van for the short distance, long drive Moscow special to Red Square.

Now the idea for the shoot was a little on the dodgy side but we did manage to get it once we had been asked to leave Red Square and do it on the other side!! When you are told what to do by plain clothes officers you pretty do it and move on. Although the band, Craig and Tom my fantastic decoy were well impressed with how fast I could change a memory card after being told to delete all the images!!

Walked around the other side of Red Square, got a few more different shots and then hopped back in the van for another long ride to the in-store the band were doing... After finishing up went over to the venue which was huge! Found another red wall (oddly enough) and did a quick shoot and then hung out until the band went on. Great show and the turnout was way more than the promoter said it was going to be... Sound was great, lighting could have been better but then again it's never perfect. Finished off at the hotel bar with promises that Tom and I would be up in 5 hours time for some site-seeing. Maybe???

Didn't end up sleeping and just worked through until I needed to catch an early bus to Heathrow. Arrived at 5 something and met up with Tom who was fairly annoyed the taxi had missed judged the ride and dropped him off at 430!! Checked into our flight and were told we couldn't have our luggage checked all the way through to Moscow. Would 50 minutes be enough time to get the luggage and catch the next flight? NO! Fucking idiots even charged us in Warsaw for excess baggage and we had to sit around a couple of hours waiting for the next flight. Reminded me of the type of service everybody knows and loves from a certain "American" airline!! Why did I have to be at Heathrow by 5am again??

Finally arrived in Moscow and caught a cab to the hotel which we were told would take 2 hours. Hands down this is the worst traffic I have ever seen! At least in most countries it eventually moves, this truly goes at a snails pace. Finally got to the hotel in an hour and 55 minutes, were told we lucked out?!? Checked in to find Tom and I were sharing a room, well so far 0 for 2 on the booking of this trip... And Tom is not a good writer to play games with!!

Went down to the bar and met up with Craig Jennings and his family (all very nice) and Funeral For A Friend (a pic from last time) who were in good spirits. Called it an early night as we had to be up for 9am breakfast... Yay!?!

Spent the day running around and finishing up a load of p-shop work. Angels and Airwaves is looking good and hopefully the printing comes out nicely next week!! Off to Moscow tomorrow to do a shoot with Funeral For A Friend which should be fun. Looking forward to seeing St.Basil's Cathedral in Red Square even if the weather looks like it may not co-operate... Probably no posts for awhile but hey just got caught up with them all recently anyway!!

The Serj cover that is out tomorrow in Kerrang!

Today went like clockwork! Would have thought with 2 PRs, 2 bands (9 personalities), a studio location, and an impending sound check at 330 starting at 245 would be a problem...

Well thanks to the Bloodhound Gang, and Bowling For Soup for being so on it today!! Total pros walking in and making the shoot go very smoothly. Won't give away too much but this prop worked quite well in the end!

Watched the sunset on the beach with the almost crutch less mermaid, had a lovely afternoon which was followed by a long evening at the computer sorting out everything for this week...

Finally got to take it fairly easy but will be having cold showers for the next three days as the pump on the boiler went! Headed down to the Komedia for the late Saturday night show and it was full of complete tossers as the MC Stephen Grant said!! Never seen so many idiots in there before. Comics were great and they picked up very fast how bad the crowd was!

A shot of yesterday's sunset without Bullets And Octane...

Left the Travelodge in Portsmouth and drove over to Brighton after a stop at the Little Chef! Never eaten at one before, I guess it's the "classic" UK truck-stop diner...

Arrived into Brighton and did a quick couple of set-up shoots with the band and ended up down on the beach. (pic:Fishy) I had never seen it so calm down there before, and we hit it at the perfect time as the sun was going down.

Grabbed a quick bite to eat at the Dorset with the crippled mermaid who is now down to one crutch and then over to the Freebutts for the second Bullets And Octane show. Not as good turnout but they worked the crowd so well. Definitely a very fun, great band to see live who know how to personalize a show to each and every member in the audience. And had no problem doing it with drawn in moustaches from the drinking games that happened before their set!!

Got up early and finished a few things on the computer before getting on a train to Southampton. Met up with Ryan Bird at the main train station. We guessed our way over to the Joiners venue to start the 2 day on the road feature with Bullets And Octane.

What a great bunch of guys including their manager Ben!! They are out to party hard and put on a great show. Do yourself a favor and go check them out...

Once they finished the show and Gene had talked to everyone in the club it was time for the classic drinking game of "You're Gonna Get It!" which ended in a massive dog pile. Passed out on the floor of a Travelodge in the middle of nowhere after watching the worst Johnny Depp film ever made on the van ride over!! Brighton tomorrow should be just as much fun as today was...

Went up to Kensal Green to do a shoot with the Plight this afternoon. Nice guys who were more than happy to play around with tires and guns!

Finally had a bit if time to chill out and do nothing so watched Shane Meadow's This Is England. The film had been hyped up a bit too much and was a little disappointed with it... One of those films that at the end you can only say, "That was it?!?"

Was pleased with the way this shot of the Blackout turned out in the Brighton Sewers out this week in the mighty K!.

Came in fairly late today to the 100 Club to do a quick shoot with Avenged Sevenfold before the show. Afterwards went to dinner at Pizza Express with Phoebe, the glamorous Morgan sisters, Tom, and Ian.

Headed back over to the 100 Club for the show. Fortunately there was a barricade up which made it easier to photograph. Had decent access even though is was hard going up front. Took off right at the end as there was a long night ahead working in the p-shop!!

Here's the Avenged cover which contrary to popular belief, and incorrect photo credit I did do!!

Arrived at Heathrow around 8am and went over to Carly's to hang out for the morning.

Didn't get much of a break as after that I headed over to my least favorite London hotel to do a shoot with Avenged Sevenfold. Supposedly someone couldn't get out of bed so only got three of them. Guess we'll have to do all of them tomorrow which will be fun I'm sure.

Managed to catch a taxi who ran out of gas on a hill!! In my sleepy state told the confused driver to roll it onto the flat which got it started and coasted on fumes to the gas (petrol) station!!! Just wanted to sleep, that will have to wait as too many pics need to be in this week. Time to get busy with the Serj shots for next week...

Woke up early and prepared for a quick shoot with Biffy Clyro in Central Park. Went back to the great spot Emma Johnston (who took this photo) and I found the day before. Managed to get some great shots in the 15 minutes we had!!

Spent the rest of the day strolling around NYC with Emma. Went to a great store in St.Mark's Place called Trash and Vaudeville, picked up a few Halloween decorations and then ate sushi as fast as we could before being almost late for our flight home!

After getting a dirty look on the plane from one of the many same kind of person on the flight, (only to watch them being told off by one of their most feared!) and sitting on the runway for 2 hours we finally took off!! Fell asleep to the horrendous Evan Almighty flick and awoke somewhere over the Atlantic near Iceland! Can't wait to sleep properly tonight if it all works out...

Couldn't sleep beyond 7am so stayed up. Went for a walk around Central Park (pictured: The Mall) with Emma to scout out some locations for the Biffy shoot today. Even got to see Blackwolf the Dragonmaster who is New York's unofficial wizard strolling around the park!! Found some beautiful places and then met up with Rob for breakfast.

Took a walk close to the hotel and then all headed down to the venue (Madison Square Garden Theatre) to meet up with the band. Between line check did a few quick photos but didn't exactly get what was needed. Did get some fantastic live/backstage pics and then we ended up drinking til the wee hours with everyone. They were staying at the most amazing hotel which felt like an apartment block!! We shall see if we can get a shoot done in Central Park tomorrow...

Caught an afternoon flight to JFK on American Airlines from Heathrow. Now I don't think I have ever rolled through the airport so fast before. Checked in and made it through security all in a half hour!! No idea what to do with myself so sat in the bar. Could have done with a few more drinks as I think the seat belt sign came off for 15 minutes of the flight. A very bumpy one...

Came through JFK very quickly and caught a cab into town. Nice cabbie who was very knowledgeable with all the surroundings! Dropped the bags off at the hotel (nice view!) and then raced across uptown and midtown to meet Emma and Rob at a bar. Drank until way late and then stumbled back to the hotel room to pass out to Forrest Gump...

A day of organizing and getting ready to go to New York tomorrow. (A photograph from the last trip to NYC in February.) Weather is supposed to be good so hopefully we can wander around Central Park.

Watched Spike Lee's Inside Man which started well and tapered off into a very mediocre film. At least the weekend will be good as Biffy are always up for anything...

Met up with Scoot for a few drinks at the Ritzy Theatre in Brixton. Had a great chat about all things and both came to same conclusion that between 1991 and 1994 some of the best albums came out... Could fill an entire blog with all of them!! Completely unconnected here's a shot of Alter Bridge that's out in today's Kerrang!

On my way to the Metro Club bumped into Tony and Scott from Scream Promotions. They talked about a potential press trip to Hamburg for Mid-December... Headed over to the Metro club where Neurosonic were playing. Had a good night with Troy, and the gang. Met the "new" bass player JD who I have known for years from when he was the singer of Alberta band One Nine Hundred.

Looks like Troy and I will try and hang out again around Christmas time if he makes it up to the Vancouver area...

Another day at the computer. Keep getting last minute requests for images but hey I'm not complaining as they're potential publicity campaigns with Virgin recording artists... But first must put the finishing touches on Avenged Sevenfold which will be out next Wednesday.

Again see Friday's post... Bleary eyed!!

See Friday's post... Computer!

Pretty hung over from last night which is weird as I really didn't drink too much... Went through a load of images that need to be in for next week. Excited to get finished the Avenged Sevenfold shoot which turned out well. But before that it will be the sewer shots of the Blackout!! A weekend on the computer looks like it is on the cards... A pic of the Used from this week.

Well today was a Happy Birthday to the lovely crippled mermaid!! Couldn't do too much because of injury but did go for some sushi...

In the evening went up to the Kentish Town Forum for a packed out Madina Lake show. Couldn't believe how busy it was which was great. Had a few drinks with the crew and then ran for the last train home... Just barely made it as I sprinted through the station after some fantastic driving by the cabbie!!

A very mellow day in the form of a carer... Watched Sin City, a very inspiring film until you see the making of and realize that a good portion of the lighting is nothing but an after effect!!!! Also watched Bill Bailey Part Troll which is absolutely hilarious. Have front row tickets for his show at the end of November which I can't wait for!!

Speaking of films here's the Meet Me In St.Louis shot in today's Kerrang!

Searched for a few things in London today and managed not to return home completely empty handed. Here's the Kerrang! cover for this week with the 30 Seconds To Mars shoot...

One Year In...

How time flies! A year has past and how quickly did that happen. Easily the best year I've ever had. Learned and found more than I ever thought I would with love and work. Dropped loads in the past and enjoying every moment as it happens... Very happy would be the mood!

So today kept the sushi lunch with Laurence going which I think will become the norm! Then headed over to Manor House for a preview of Guitar Hero III with the Gallows. We were supposed to be rocking by 630 but when the plastic guitars turned up at 830 it was let's get the photos done fast!!

A pic of Turisas that is running in this week's Kerrang!